College Chronicles by Charlotte G.

Meet one of KQ’s new Intern Bloggers! Charlotte grew up in Greenwich, CT. She graduated high school in 2020 and currently attends university in Virginia. Charlotte looks forward to sharing her perspectives and advice on academics, dorm life, and the joys along with the challenges of being a college student!

#1 - My top 10 Freshman Tips

Ah, as the beginning of the back-to-school commercials and sales come about, we’re reminded that summer is soon to come to an end. And for some, it means moving out and going to college for the first time. I was a college freshman last year and although it was an unprecedented year, every piece of advice I received from older siblings, friends, and adults remained just as, if not more, important. Trust me, I was terrified. Moving out after living in the same town and with my parents, my whole life seemed insane. I always knew I would go to college, but it always felt so far in the future, until it was right in front of me. 

And now, after my first year of college, I have never been more excited to return; I followed the advice from my friends and family which in turn made my freshman year one of the best years of my life. My hope is for yours to be just as amazing, so I am going to list some of the advice my friends and family gave to me that made me more cool, calm, and collected when heading into college. 

1. Balance Work and Play

   I think this is the most important piece of advice I was given. College is tough academically, and freshman year you are also thrown into the thick of social life. You are dying to meet people and make friends and acclimate to the school community. However, it is also important to prioritize schoolwork. Like myself, most college freshmen are experiencing living and studying away from home for the first time. This meant I had to adjust my study skills and truly learn how to manage time. I am a pretty social person, but I learned pretty quickly that to do well in school you have to balance both perfectly. It is okay to miss out on a couple of things in order to do better in school, and it is okay to not do your best on one project if you feel too overwhelmed with school. 

2. Get an academic planner 

   Getting an academic planner actually saved me. Without it, it is so easy to forget a small assignment that was just slipped out in the middle of class or something. I’ll link some below

   • Try this one

   • Or this!

3. If you have communal showers, Invest in shower shoes

   Please, who knows what’s on the floor in there! 

4. Buy headphones or earbuds 

   If you know you have a roommate, get yourself some headphones or earbuds if you don’t have any yet. No matter if you love or dislike your roommate, everyone needs a little alone time once in a while and with headphones, you can be in your own world without bothering the other person in the room.

5. Hold your judgments when meeting new friends

   It's totally okay not to be friends with everyone, but as a freshman, everyone is going through the same motions of making friends, and for some people, it's harder than others.

6. Try to make connections with your professors 

   It will only help you in the long run to have people in your corner! 

7. Don’t be scared to go to extra help sessions/office hours 

   It shows you really care about understanding the material and doing well, and will only help you to get extra help.

8. Be as outgoing as you can - even if it’s uncomfortable

   Although it's scary to be yourself, it's also the easiest way to find people that will be your best friends. Being genuine attracts people.

9. Immerse yourself in school spirit!

   Go to sports games!!! They are amazing and it is so fun to have school spirit. 

10. If everything is overwhelming you and you feel swamped, take a break 

    I had to take a lot of breaks this year, especially with corona, I felt my stress sometimes take over. The most effective ways I regrouped were working out, calling my mom or my home friends, going for a walk, or just watching a comfort show (my personal fav is New Girl)

Written by Charlotte G. | Blogging Intern at Keating Quigley Educational Advisors

Give someone a slice of joy!

As 2020 comes to a close, we could all do with some joy in our lives! But we should also consider the rewards of spreading a little love too. So why not consider how your child can bring some socially-distanced cheer into someone’s life through community service this holiday season?

Not just a “box ticking” exercise. We all know that a well-rounded resume is important in the school application process down the line, but authentic service to others should be more than just ‘ticking the box’. Not only can community service be personally rewarding, but it can also be instrumental in shaping your child’s future self. By getting involved in simple, selfless acts of kindness, they may learn the important lesson of caring for someone other than themself, while also realizing what a big difference a little effort can make in someone’s life.

The pandemic has presented us with complications of all sorts of shapes and sizes, with access to community service included in the long list of obstacles. However, these unparalleled challenges do not mean your child can’t get involved. So how does your child ‘give back’ in times when social distancing is the fabric of our new landscape? Here, we uncover some creative ways to volunteer - virtually or hands-on - from the safety of your own home. There are opportunities for your family as a whole, for your child individually, or for your child and friends to apply their skills without risking exposure to themselves or others.

Before you get stuck in, a word of advice... To inspire a genuine connection and leave your child wanting to commit to community service on a more regular basis, it is important that they do not feel “forced” into an activity. To achieve this, make it a collaborative process that involves them at every stage. Also, be sure to focus on how the process can be fun and align with your child’s interests. Without this emotional attachment, the activity will be perceived as a “chore” and will not result in a positive outcome.

Socially distanced, but by no means isolated... To begin with, there are many national, regional, and local organizations looking for help in ways that children can get involved with from home. A project can be scaled up or down, depending on your child’s age. And it doesn’t need to be elaborate either. For example, your child can express their thanks to our troops overseas by sending them a letter or making them a bracelet. Alternatively, they can pen a heartfelt message of thanks to a front-line worker. Or why not become a penpal to an elderly person living in a senior living community?

And how about injecting some fun, creativity, and a sense of community into the process? To give you an idea of how two kids made a simple yet HUGE impact in their hometown of Bethel, CT, this spring, meet the Bethel Sharks - Skipper (Dad), Sharkira (Mom), and little Sea Sea! This impactful endeavor was the brainchild of two anonymous students who simply wanted to spread cheer at a time when local morale was low. At first, the sharks started ‘hanging out’ at random locations around town, sparking instant curiosity. Soon, there were ‘shark sightings’ galore, a Facebook group boasting thousands of members, and a barrage of news coverage. Spontaneous acts of kindness and joy followed wherever they popped up. Ultimately, locals were sad when they headed back out to ‘sea’. Learn more about how their simple acts led to greatness in this article from CT Magazine!

In this age of Tik Tok, Reels, and YouTube, is your child a talented videographer - making fun videos of themself, others, or their pets? Check out VolunteerMatch in Maryland, an organization that asks students to submit short videos demonstrating how to do a simple craft. The videos are then shared with caregivers so they can, in turn, work on these fun projects with their intellectually-disabled companions. Alternatively, your child can help create a video storytime library for vulnerable children. What child wouldn’t love diving into joyous projects like this?

We know we’ve just scratched the surface in the endless list of virtual community service opportunities out there. And by now, we’re sure you’ve realized how easy it is to get creative and make a difference in someone else’s life. If you would like to receive more information about how to find meaningful volunteer opportunities, click the link below and we’ll send a list of amazing opportunities right out to you!

Request KQ’s Community Service List

Community Service List

IMPORTANT: Your child’s health and safety, and for those they are serving, are paramount. Be sure to review volunteer opportunities carefully so you know who your child will be working with online or by phone. Also, familiarize yourself with the volunteer position to be sure they are fulfilling an appropriate need that is not for profit.

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Written by Verona Keating and Jacquie Quigley | Founding Partners of Keating Quigley Education Advisors